The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-18
JOHN SHERMAN'SPLAINTAL
The Ohio Senator Speaks Frankly and
Fully on Current Political Topics.
counting for Cleyelands Popularity-The
Tariff, the Surplus, and the Presidency.


the lessons of the recent elections in the several
States, to which he said:
~ think the New York election has settled
the renomi nation of Grover Cleveland. and that
the Republicans will be called upon to make a
nomination TO meet that alternative. do not
say who the nominee will be- vet do not think
the loss of New York, last week, to the Repub-
hcans. should be dispiriting. In the tremendous
vote cast the Democratic nominee received many
Republican votes among the brewing interests.
Again. the campaign. in my Judgment not
conducted as it should have been"
with respect to what, | asked
ITO Begin replied the Senator, s'there seems
TO be too much timidity the New York
Republicans. They speak, in undertones, if
afraid aggressveness might offend somebody.
l have simple platforms: First. the protection
of American industries and second, the count of
the vote fairly cast in the Southern States.
For one, would not join in general defama-
ton of the Southern section. l willing to
forget the war, and forgive those who partici-
pated in 1t. but the time has now come, IN my
judgment, to protect the colo-ed men of the
the South in their political rights; to have their
votes fairly counted and delivered"
''How do you propose to ompiish this."
sit easily be done" said the Senator. II
take the broad ground that the Congress of the
stituton to supervise the vote cast In every
State for mem bers of Congress ami for all of
fees that are national Let me amplify See
ton of Article 1 of the Constitution
says: The times. places and manner of
holding elections for Senators and Repre-
sentatives shall be prescribed in each State by
the Legislature thereof but the Congress may
at any time by law make or alter such regula-
t,ons except to the place of choosing Sena-
tors
Now, what can be clearer under this section
of the Constitution II is wholly within the
power of Congress to provide the machinery for
fair election in the South. 1t Is VIGOROUSLY
known that the negro vote of the South is not
counted where it is prejudicial to Democratic
results. think the time has now come for Con-
gress assert its authority. / would have
boards of election to that the vote in every
State, North and South, was fairly counted
would have the expenses of such boards paid
out of the National Treasury. and would have
their duties specifically prescribed by Congress.
When l said little while ago that the New
York Republicans were cowardly in the conduct
of their campaigns had reference to this very
thing. / think the deprivation of the negro
vote in the South should have been an issue in
the campaign and a commanding issue. made
it in Ohlo and it ought to be the feature at the
approaching session of Congress"
then asked Mr.. Sherman in view of his
declaration that the negro vote was not counted,
If it was not after all political mistake In
party sense to have enfranchsed the negro.
Sometimes think So" was his reply. II
don't know after all but that 1t would have been
better for the negro if his rights had been plant
ed wholly on the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution. 1t would then have been no OBJ
isct to have denied him his vote, for in such
event the basis of representation would have
been reduced. Again. under the fourteenth
amendment Congress, as it directed in its
final sentence could have enforced by appropri-
ate legislation its provisions"
NextI discussed with the Senator the Demo-
do you regard 1t strong IN any essential senseP
mot at ALL" said he. s'What has it done2 It
is merely drifting along. 1t has developed no
policy of craftsmanship In It's financial policy
it's following only In the footsteps of the Re-
pnblicans. 1t has not stamped itsef upon the
public mind by any act calculated to win ap
plause. 1t merely swims along"
''And yet" interrupted Il find in my trav-
els that there is concensus of opinion that
President Cleveland is strong with the people"
Yes" said he. II can account for that. The
President is dogmatic and domineering in his
ways He snubs his Cabinet and the public
in the Democratic lines. The people like
him for this. 1 rather think. after all, the
people enjoy it when the public are
snubhed. Mr. Cleveland. in his obstinate way.
has done good deal of snubbing, and think
the people like him for the liberal manner in
which he has done it."
Coming to the point of interest on that sub
ject do you think there will be a tariff bill
passed by Congress" ventured
Eyes, / do" the Senator'S answer. "My
gracious. the Democrats must do something.
They in possession of the body where alone
a bill for raising revenue must originate. 1t is
my opinion that some kind of measure will
Senate, and when thus get jurisdiction
the subject will make bill, but you rest
assured that it will embody the feature of pro-
lection American labor.
.'While on the tariff, let give you some
suggestions The Democrats call protection
lists, whereas the fact it is. is that the exist
in the line of free trade OF the importations
now amounting to 5000 100000, $780,,
10000 are now now On on tie re fl free list
which 60 to make the remaining two-thirds.
Over one hundred and forty millions col
lected from the luxuries of life. such silks.
vslvets, bric-a -brac champagne and foreign
liquors So that really less than one third, 9TH
er than luxuries, are now taxed. The aim ought
to be to tax all foreign importations with which
the American product cannot compete Let in
free all goods In which America is not thrown in
competition, and likewise make free all the arti-
cles which are the necessaries of life In a nut
everything
make. Put tax on that which we can make
that the American manufacturer can pay his
workmen better wages than are paid in Europe.
This is the sum and substance of protection"
Have you any pronounced views as to how
the surplus in the Treasury should be reduced7"
YES" said Mr.. Sherman. ~ have 1 would
not touch the tax distilled spirits. l would
reduce abolish wholly the tax tobacco. I
would make the tax sugar either nominal or
wipe it out entirely; if wiped out would offer a
bounty on sugar raising This would encourage
the farmers of the land to raise beet sugar 1
direct tax Again, 1 would revive the distribu-
ton tax act of 1887 In that year Congress
passed act providing that the surplus then in
the Treasury should be distributed among the
several States upon the basis Of population An
instalment of 500 000 900 paid Then the |
panic on, with attendant bad times, and
the payment of the second installment was sus-
pended. This law could be revived by joint |
resolution of Congress- and would distribute
500 600, 900. think, though. i: should be paid
only the States which in the Union in
in 1837fHnd not to those which have subse-
quently come in"
Twill you again seek the distinction of pre-
siding over the Senate. asked
''No will not said the Senator. 81 always |
found it's duties exacting. 1t requires abso-
Lutte punctual attendance at given hour. which |
l found made exactions upon my time which |
could better employ in other duties l |
chairman of the foreign affairs committee, and |
a member of the france committee. The re- |
port had gained ground that had refused to |
serve on the finance committee because Mr.. |
Morrill, was its chairman This is not true. |
Ny attitude that if there is to be tariff leg
islation did not want to be charged with the |
conduct of a bill unless it was wholly in my |
control"
1 then approached Mr. Sherman on the deli |
cate question of the Republican nomination. l |
could see it was of great reserve with him. |
To the question, iECan the Republicans win the /
next presidential electlon2' without hesitancv he
said: ~ can see nothing to discourage the Re-